Westwood dumps coach Cowen as short game misery continues at Kiawah

Lee Westwood has ditched long-time coach Pete Cowen in the aftermath of another major failure.

The Englishman missed the cut at the PGA Championship, his 59th major appearance, despite leading the tee-to-green stats after 36 holes as his short game once again let him down.

Earlier in the year, Westwood squandered a host of short putts which cost him The Masters before his work around the greens once again let him down at the US Open.

Speaking from Kiawah Island, manager Andrew Chandler told reporters that Westwood had grown frustrated and needed to shake things up.

“Lee has lost his focus and his enthusiasm a bit because he wasn’t getting the rewards for his long game,” he said. “Pete was passing on advice to Lee, but he wasn’t around to follow it through. Pete was here for two days with Graeme [McDowell] this week when Lee wanted to work with him, so it just wasn’t working out.

“Lee has been very structured with his fitness over the last few years and that has done wonders for him. Now the intention is to introduce the same structure to improving his short game.”

Chandler wouldn’t name the short game coach Westwood will work with in Florida this week, but the intention is to build the 39-year-old a whole new technique.

“Lee’s the sort who needs someone standing over him, making him hit chip after chip and telling him what he’s doing wrong,” added Chandler.

“It’s not like he’s got the yips or anything - he just needs to improve his technique.

“He’s not going to have a long game coach for the foreseeable future - there’s nothing wrong with that part of his game.

“I won’t say who it is, but it will become public next week because he’ll be working with Lee for a few days at The Barclays.”

Westwood has also parted company with temporary caddie Mike Waite, who took over in May when regular bagman Billy Foster suffered a knee injury which will keep him out until next year.

Zimbabwean Mike Kerr, taking time off from working with Spaniard Alvaro Quiros, will take over for the FedEx Cup playoffs and Ryder Cup.

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